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SEIA is the solar energy industry’s go-to source for the latest coverage on solar power, including U.S. and international policy, research and polls, business and financing trends, and more. Our staff strives to support the media covering solar energy issues and guide our members on effective media outreach with clear statements, background materials, news and multimedia resources.

SEIA is committed to informing policymakers, the media, and the American public about the benefits of solar energy for today’s communities, our economy, and our country.

A new state law encouraging the growth of alternative energy sources has spurred several proposals to create solar power “gardens” in Minnesota, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. The law, which was enacted last year, allows independent businesses and groups to set up arrays of solar panels and then sell the power directly to local customers. Such arrangements would allow consumers to purchase solar power without having to install solar panels on their homes.

Clean energy investment in Nevada has accelerated rapidly in the past five years thanks to Nevada’s widespread leadership and support for the clean energy economic sector, reaching at least $5.5 billion just since 2010, according to a new report available at cleanenergyprojectnv.org.

Despite all the excitement surrounding solar energy over the last couple of decades, the technology has yet to go mainstream. However, that is slowly starting to change. Perhaps the biggest reason for the slow spread of solar energy has been the high cost associated with converting a household to take advantage of solar energy.

Distributed generation in the form of wind, landfill gas, and cogeneration got a mention, but solar by far is attracting the most attention from cooperatives and legislators, a panel of experts told the co-op crowd. The panelists also informed co-ops that distributed generation is coming. They were told that it is best to get in front of it and that co-ops should develop their own DG projects.

No fewer than two in three Americans want the U.S. to put more emphasis on producing domestic energy using solar power (76%), wind (71%), and natural gas (65%). Far fewer want to emphasize the production of oil (46%) and the use of nuclear power (37%). Least favored is coal, with about one in three Americans wanting to prioritize its domestic production.